FairangePainting · IA
Painting costs in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Last updated from data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · PPI construction materials 2026-09 · estimates only
How this market compares
If you are pricing Painting work in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, the wage file is the honest place to start. Mean hourly pay here sits about 3% below the national OEWS mean.
Among 487 OEWS areas with published Painting wages, Waterloo-Cedar Falls ranks #143 nationally on mean hourly pay ($25.84). Inside IA, that is rank 3 of 12 published areas. Percentile spread: $18.20–$34.58. Median sits at $26.44.
OEWS counts about 110 Painters, Construction and Maintenance jobs in this area. Nationwide that occupation is about 225,190. Sample jobs: Interior Room Painting mid estimate $508 here vs $520 U.S. (2% below); Exterior House Painting mid estimate $6,054 here vs $6,220 U.S. (3% below); Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint mid estimate $380 here vs $390 U.S. (2% below).
Nearby / same-state markets worth checking: Des Moines-West Des Moines ($26.73, 0.89 higher); Dubuque ($24.35, 1.49 lower); Cedar Rapids ($24.10, 1.74 lower).
Local tip: Local code, permit fees, and how busy crews are this month move numbers as much as wage rates do.
Sample project ranges
| Project | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior Room Painting | $225 | $508 | $1,183 |
| Exterior House Painting (default size) | $2,707 | $6,054 | $14,311 |
| Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint | $149 | $380 | $957 |
What usually moves the number
- Scope surprises: duct repairs, panel upgrades, extra roof layers.
- How booked local crews are this season.
- Materials choices — we only nudge materials with a dampened regional factor. See methodology.
Rebates (verify; don’t trust a random Facebook ad)
Check IRS, ENERGY STAR, and DSIRE for any incentives that apply to this project. Start with IRS, ENERGY STAR, and DSIRE.
Getting quotes without the circus
- Screenshot our mid/low/high band.
- Ask three licensed, insured pros for written scopes.
- Compare exclusions — permits, haul-away, thermostats, flashing — before crowning a winner.
Check our math
BLS OEWS May 2025 · local hourly means the calculator uses
| Painter (47-2141) | $25.84/hr mean |
Source: official BLS OEWS data for this area · area index: oessrcma.htm.
Contractor markup (2.0× / 2.25× / 2.5×) and the regional materials factor are ours — see methodology.
Paid listing for Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Painting. Partner.
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A decent thermostat won’t fix a bad install, but it can stop the short-cycling arguments.
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